Removable hydropad for an orbiting scroll

ABSTRACT

A scroll compressor is provided and includes a motor housing having a support surface, a fixed scroll fixedly disposable on the motor housing, an orbiting scroll which is operably disposable for fluid-compressive orbital movement relative to the fixed scroll and a removable hydropad removably disposable on the support surface between the orbiting scroll and the support surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to compressors and, moreparticularly, to scroll compressors with removable hydropads.

Scroll compressors are one type of a compressor that is commonly used invapor cycle refrigeration systems (VCS) and typically use a scroll setto pump refrigerant. The scroll set can include a fixed scroll and anorbiting scroll. During compressor operation pressure in the orbitingscroll pockets tends to push the orbiting scroll against a hydropadsurface. However, since the hydropad often contains seals that constrainrefrigerant gas, the orbiting scroll is able to “ride” on a cushion ofhigh pressure refrigerant gas in the hydropad cavity. That is, the highpressure refrigerant gas supports the orbiting scroll and prevents theorbiting scroll from actually coming in contact with the hydropadsurface.

During compressor start-up and shutdown operations, the volume of thehigh pressure refrigerant gas drops and the orbiting scroll tends totouch down on the hydropad surface as a result. Over years of compressorin-service operations, some units that are returned for overhaul andrepair have been found to exhibit excessive wear of the hydropad surfaceand/or excessive wear of the hydropad seal glands. Thus, since thehydropad is typically an integral part of a motor housing which areusually one-piece designs, the damage to the hydropad surface or sealglands cannot be repaired and necessitates time consuming and costlyreplacement of the entire motor housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to one aspect of the disclosure, a scroll compressor isprovided and includes a motor housing having a support surface, a fixedscroll fixedly disposable on the motor housing, an orbiting scroll whichis operably disposable for fluid-compressive orbital movement relativeto the fixed scroll and a removable hydropad that is removablydisposable on the support surface between the orbiting scroll and thesupport surface.

In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the fixed andorbiting scrolls have complementary volute, involute, spiral or hybridcurve vane geometries.

In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the orbitingscroll includes a base, an orbiting scroll vane that extends from thebase in a first direction, a shaft that extends from the base in asecond direction opposite the first direction and hydropad seals thatprotrude from the base in the second direction.

In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, a drive ringis disposable about the support surface and the removable hydropad.

In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the removablehydropad is one or more of pressable into, screwable into or pinnable tothe motor housing.

In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, a material ofthe removable hydropad differs from a material of the motor housing.

In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the materialof the removable hydropad is heavier than the material of the motorhousing.

In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the materialof the removable hydropad includes cast iron or aluminum alloy and thematerial of the motor housing includes aluminum alloy.

In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the removablehydropad has an integral bearing housing which is removable from themotor housing.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a scroll compressor isprovided and includes a motor housing having a support surface and alongitudinal axis, a fixed scroll which is operably disposable on andfixable relative to the motor housing, an orbiting scroll which isoperably disposable for fluid-compressive orbital movement relative tothe fixed scroll about the longitudinal axis and a removable hydropadwhich is non-integrally and removably disposable on the support surfaceto block the orbiting scroll from contact with the support surface.

In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the fixed andorbiting scrolls have complementary volute, involute, spiral or hybridcurve vane geometries.

In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the orbitingscroll includes a base, an orbiting scroll vane that extends from thebase in a first direction, a shaft that extends from the base in asecond direction opposite the first direction and hydropad seals thatprotrude from the base in the second direction.

In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, a drive ringis disposable about the support surface and the removable hydropad.

In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the removablehydropad is one or more of pressable into, screwable into or pinnable tothe motor housing.

In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, a material ofthe removable hydropad differs from a material of the motor housing.

In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the materialof the removable hydropad is heavier than the material of the motorhousing.

In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the materialof the removable hydropad includes cast iron or aluminum alloy and thematerial of the motor housing includes aluminum alloy.

In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the removablehydropad has an integral bearing housing which is removable from themotor housing.

In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, a vaporcompression refrigeration system (VCRS) is provided and includes thescroll compressor and the removable hydropad.

According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, a method ofassembling a scroll compressor is provided and includes forming a motorhousing, which is connectable with a fixed scroll and which has asupport surface and a longitudinal axis, removably disposing a removablehydropad on the support surface, operably disposing an orbiting scrollfor fluid-compressive orbital movement relative to the fixed scrollabout the longitudinal axis such that the removable hydropad isinterposed between the orbiting scroll and the support surface andoperably disposing the fixed scroll on the motor housing to be fixedrelative to the motor housing.

In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the methodfurther includes one or more of pressing the removable hydropad into themotor housing, screwing the removable hydropad into the motor housing orpinning the removable hydropad onto the motor housing.

These and other advantages and features will become more apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter, which is regarded as the disclosure, is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages ofthe disclosure are apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a vapor cycle refrigeration systemin accordance with embodiments;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a scroll compressor in accordance withembodiments;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of an underside of a fixed scroll of thescroll compressor of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a motor housing and a removable hydropadof the scroll compressor of FIGS. 2A and 2B;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the motor housing and the removable hydropad ofFIG. 3 along with fixed and orbiting scrolls;

FIG. 5 is a top-down view of the fixed and orbiting scrolls of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a motor housing and a removablehydropad/bearing housing combination of a scroll compressor inaccordance with alternative embodiments;

FIG. 7 is an exploded, perspective view of the motor housing and theremovable hydropad/bearing housing combination of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the motor housing and the removable hydropad ofFIG. 3; and

FIG. 9 is a side view of the motor housing and the removablehydropad/bearing housing combination of FIGS. 6 and 7.

The detailed description explains embodiments of the disclosure,together with advantages and features, by way of example with referenceto the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

As will be described below, a scroll compressor with a removablehydropad is provided with a two-piece motor housing and hydropad design.During initial assembly, a removable hydropad is inserted onto a supportsurface of a motor housing along with the remaining components of thecompressor. Over time, if damage to the hydropad or its surfaces occursas a result of in-service scroll compressor operation, the scrollcompressor can be disassembled and the removable hydropad removed fromthe motor housing. A new hydropad can then be inserted into the motorhousing and the scroll compressor can be reassembled. Thus, a damagedhydropad surface can be repaired or mitigated by simply removing andreplacing the hydropad itself. This eliminates the need to replace theentire motor housing, which ultimately reduces both labor and materialcost of overhaul and repair.

With reference to FIG. 1, a vapor cycle refrigeration system (VCRS) 1 isprovided for execution of a vapor-compression cycle. The VCRS 1 includesa compressor 2, a condenser 3, an expansion valve 4, an evaporator 5, afan 6 and piping 7 by which the various components of the VCRS 1 arefluidly communicative with each other. During operations, the VCRS 1uses a circulating liquid refrigerant as a medium, which absorbs andremoves heat from space, to be cooled and to subsequently reject thatheat. That is, circulating refrigerant enters the compressor 2 as asaturated vapor and is compressed therein to a higher pressure and ahigher temperature. The hot, compressed vapor is then provided as asuperheated vapor that is at a temperature and pressure at which it canbe condensed in the condenser 3 with a flow of either cooling water orcooling air. This is where the circulating refrigerant rejects heat fromthe system and the rejected heat is carried away by either the water orthe air (whichever may be the case).

The condensed liquid refrigerant is next routed as a saturated liquidthrough the expansion valve 4 where it undergoes an abrupt reduction inpressure which results in the adiabatic flash evaporation of a part ofthe liquid refrigerant. The auto-refrigeration effect of the adiabaticflash evaporation lowers the temperature of this liquid and vaporrefrigerant mixture to where it is colder than the temperature of theenclosed space to be refrigerated. Next, the cold mixture is routedthrough coils or tubes in the evaporator 5 with the fan 6 circulatingwarm air across the coils or tubes to cause the liquid part of the coldrefrigerant mixture to evaporate. At the same time, the circulating airis cooled and lowers the temperature of the surrounding space.

To complete the refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant vapor from theevaporator 5 is returned to its original saturated vapor condition andis routed back into the compressor 2.

With reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B and with additional reference to FIGS.3-5, a scroll compressor 10 is provided for use as the compressor 2 inthe VCRS 1 of FIG. 1, for example. The scroll compressor 10 includes amotor housing 20, a fixed scroll 30, an orbiting scroll 40 and aremovable hydropad 50. The motor housing 20 is generally cylindrical inshape and has a support surface 21 with an annular shape, sidewalls 22disposed annularly about the support surface 21 and a longitudinal axisA. The motor housing 20 may further include a drive ring 60 (see FIGS. 3and 4) that is disposable in one or more parts about the support surface21 and the removable hydropad 50.

The fixed scroll 30 is operably disposable on and fixable relative tothe motor housing 20 and includes a cap portion 31 and a fixed scrollvane 32 (see FIG. 4) disposed within the cap portion 31. The cap portion31 is formed of an annular end cap portion 310 that serves as an end capof the scroll compressor 10 and end cap sidewalls 311 that are disposedannularly about the annular end cap portion 310 and are engagable withthe sidewalls 22. The fixed scroll vane 32 extends from the annular endcap portion 310 toward the support surface 21 along the longitudinalaxis A.

The orbiting scroll 40 is operably disposable for fluid-compressiveorbital movement relative to the fixed scroll 30 about the longitudinalaxis. The orbiting scroll 40 includes an annular base 41, which isgenerally disposable within the scroll compressor 10 to be parallel withthe annular end cap portion 310, an orbiting scroll vane 42 that extendstoward the annular end cap portion 310 from the annular base 41 in afirst direction D1 defined along the longitudinal axis A, an orbitingscroll shaft 43 (see FIG. 4) that drives orbital movement of theorbiting scroll vane 42 and extends from the annular base 41 in a seconddirection D2, which is opposite the first direction D1, and hydropadseals 44 (see FIG. 4). The hydropad seals 44 may be provided as pluralhydropad seals 44 and extend circumferentially about the orbiting scrollshaft 43. The hydropad seals 44 protrude from the annular base 41 in thesecond direction D2.

As shown in FIG. 5, the fixed scroll vane 32 and the orbiting scrollvane 43 may have various complementary shapes, patterns or vanegeometries 3242 These include, but are not limited to, volute orinvolute shapes, patterns or vane geometries, spiral shapes, patterns orvane geometries and/or hybrid curve shapes, patterns or vane geometries.In any case, during operations of the scroll compressor 10, the orbitingscroll vane 43 orbits about the longitudinal axis A and thus compressesair or fluid between the orbiting scroll vane 43 and the fixed scrollvane 32.

Such compression has the additional effect, which is illustrated in FIG.4, of pressurizing the orbiting scroll 40 (i.e., the lower surface ofthe annular base 41 and the hydropad seals 44) toward the supportsurface 21. The removable hydropad 50 is thus provided to benon-integrally and removably disposable on the support surface 21 toblock the lower surface of the annular base 41 and the hydropad seals 44of the orbiting scroll 40 from coming into contact with the supportsurface 21. Therefore, when and if damage occurs as a result of theorbiting scroll 40 contacting any surface, such damage will be done tothe removable hydropad 50 and not to the support surface 21. As such,since the removable hydropad 50 can be removed from the motor housing 20and replaced by another removable hydropad 50, damage to the motorhousing 20 as a whole can be avoided and any repairs (which now requiremere replacement of the removable hydropad 50) can be completed ingreatly reduced time and with little expense and without the need fordisassembly and re-assembly of the motor housing 20.

In accordance with embodiments, the removable hydropad 50 includes anannular body 51 that extends about the orbiting scroll shaft 43 with alower surface 52 and an upper surface 53. The lower surface 52 isdisposable to non-integrally and removably sit on the support surface 21of the motor housing 20. The upper surface is disposable to make contactwith the lower surface of the annular base 41 and the hydropad seals 44of the orbiting scroll 40. The removable hydropad is one or more ofpressable into, screwable into or pinnable to the motor housing 20 andis formed of or includes a material that differs from a material of themotor housing 20. That is, the material of the removable hydropad 50 maybe heavier and more wear resistant and durable than the material of themotor housing 20. For example, the material of the removable hydropad 50may include cast iron or an aluminum alloy and the material of the motorhousing 20 may include a relatively light aluminum alloy.

In accordance with further embodiments and with reference to FIGS. 6 and7, the removable hydropad 50 may be provided or paired with an integralbearing housing 70 that is removable from the motor housing 20. Theintegral bearing housing 70 includes a central, annular cylindricalelement 71, an annular flange 72 that extends radially outwardly fromthe central, annular cylindrical element 71, drive ring elements 73 thatare defined above the annular flange 72 and a hydropad surface element74 that forms an uppermost surface. In such cases, the support surface21 is formed to define an aperture 75 whereby the annular flange 72 sitson an upper surface of the support surface 21 with the central, annularcylindrical element 71 disposed within the aperture 75. The hydropadsurface element 74 is thus disposable to make contact with the removablehydropad 50 (as shown in FIG. 4) during operations of the scrollcompressor 10.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the differences between the embodimentsof FIG. 3 and those of FIGS. 6 and 7 can be seen in the cross-sectionalview of the removable hydropad 50 (see FIG. 8) and in thecross-sectional view of the removable hydropad 50 which is provided withan integral bearing housing 70 (see FIG. 9). As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,the primary difference between the two cases is that the removablehydropad 50 of FIG. 8 is non-integrally and removably disposed on theupper surface 801 of the bearing housing 800 and is separate anddistinct from the drive ring 60. By contrast, FIG. 9 indicates that thehydropad surface element 74 provided with the integral bearing housing70 is a single component that includes the drive ring elements 73. Inaddition, while the motor housing 20 in FIG. 8 includes an interveningrim element 802 that is disposed about the bearing housing 800 and isinterposed between the removable hydropad 50 and the drive ring 60, thecorresponding region in FIG. 9 is taken up by a perimetric, exteriorcomponent 901.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method ofassembling the scroll compressor 10 is provided. The method includesforming the motor housing 20 to be connectable with the fixed scroll 30and which has a support surface 21 and a longitudinal axis A, removablydisposing the removable hydropad 50 on the support surface 21 andoperably disposing the orbiting scroll 40 for fluid-compressive orbitalmovement relative to the fixed scroll 30 about the longitudinal axis A.The operable disposition of the orbiting scroll 40 is executed orconducted such that the removable hydropad 50 is interposed between theorbiting scroll 40 and the support surface 21. The method furtherincludes operably disposing the fixed scroll 30 on the motor housing 20to be rotationally and orbitally fixed relative to the motor housing 20.In accordance with embodiments, the removable disposition of theremovable hydropad 50 may include one or more of pressing the removablehydropad 50 into the motor housing 20, screwing the removable hydropad50 into the motor housing 20 or pinning the removable hydropad 50 ontothe motor housing 20.

After a period of time during which the scroll compressor 10 isoperated, the fixed scroll 30 and the orbiting scroll 40 may be removedfrom the motor housing 20. At this point, the surfaces of the removablehydropad 50 may be inspected for wear or damage. If the results of thisinspection reveal that the surfaces of the removable hydropad 50 areoverly worn or damaged, the removable hydropad 50 can be replaced byanother removable hydropad 50. The scroll compressor 10 can then bere-assembled with the new removable hydropad 50 without having has toconduct a wholesale repair or replacement of the motor housing 20.

While the disclosure is provided in detail in connection with only alimited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that thedisclosure is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, thedisclosure can be modified to incorporate any number of variations,alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretoforedescribed, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of thedisclosure. Additionally, while various embodiments of the disclosurehave been described, it is to be understood that the exemplaryembodiment(s) may include only some of the described exemplary aspects.Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be seen as limited by theforegoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A scroll compressor, comprising: a motor housinghaving a support surface; a fixed scroll fixedly disposable on the motorhousing; an orbiting scroll which is operably disposable forfluid-compressive orbital movement relative to the fixed scroll wherebythe fluid-compressive orbital movement of the orbiting scrollpressurizes the orbiting scroll toward the support surface, the orbitingscroll comprising a base, an orbiting scroll vane that extends from thebase in a first direction, a shaft that extends from the base in asecond direction opposite the first direction and hydropad seals thatprotrude from the base in the second direction and extendcircumferentially about the shaft; a removable hydropad removablydisposable on the support surface between the orbiting scroll and thesupport surface to block the hydropad seals of the orbiting scroll fromcoming into contact with the support surface; and a replacementremovable hydropad removably disposable on the support surface betweenthe orbiting scroll and the support surface with the removable hydropadhaving been removed and replaced by the replacement removable hydropadto block the hydropad seals of the orbiting scroll from coming intocontact with the support surface.
 2. The scroll compressor according toclaim 1, wherein the fixed and orbiting scrolls have complementaryvolute, involute, spiral or hybrid curve vane geometries.
 3. The scrollcompressor according to claim 1, wherein the base defines a plane andthe hydropad seals protrude from the plane of the base in the seconddirection and extend circumferentially about the shaft to be interposedbetween the plane of the base and the removable hydropad or thereplacement removable hydropad.
 4. The scroll compressor according toclaim 1, wherein each of the removable hydropad and the replacementremovable hydropad is one or more of pressable into, screwable into orpinnable to the motor housing.
 5. The scroll compressor according toclaim 1, wherein respective materials of the removable hydropad and thereplacement removable hydropad each differ from a material of the motorhousing.
 6. The scroll compressor according to claim 5, wherein therespective materials of the removable hydropad and the replacementremovable hydropad are each heavier than the material of the motorhousing.
 7. The scroll compressor according to claim 5, wherein therespective materials of the removable hydropad and the replacementremovable hydropad each comprise cast iron and the material of the motorhousing comprises aluminum alloy.
 8. The scroll compressor according toclaim 1, wherein each of the removable hydropad and the replacementremovable hydropad has an integral bearing housing which is removablefrom the motor housing.
 9. A scroll compressor, comprising: a motorhousing having a support surface and a longitudinal axis; a fixed scrollwhich is operably disposable on and fixable relative to the motorhousing; an orbiting scroll which is operably disposable forfluid-compressive orbital movement relative to the fixed scroll aboutthe longitudinal axis whereby the fluid-compressive orbital movement ofthe orbiting scroll pressurizes the orbiting scroll toward the supportsurface, the orbiting scroll comprising a base, an orbiting scroll vanethat extends from the base in a first direction, a shaft that extendsfrom the base in a second direction opposite the first direction andhydropad seals that protrude from the base in the second direction andextend circumferentially about the shaft; a removable hydropad which isnon-integrally and removably disposable on the support surface to blockthe orbiting scroll from contact with the support surface to block thehydropad seals of the orbiting scroll from coming into contact with thesupport surface; and a replacement removable hydropad which isnon-integrally and removably disposable on the support surface with theremovable hydropad having been removed and replaced by the replacementremovable hydropad to block the hydropad seals of the orbiting scrollfrom coming into contact with the support surface.
 10. The scrollcompressor according to claim 9, wherein the fixed and orbiting scrollshave complementary volute, involute, spiral or hybrid curve vanegeometries.
 11. The scroll compressor according to claim 9, wherein thebase defines a plane and the hydropad seals protrude from the plane ofthe base in the second direction and extend circumferentially about theshaft to be interposed between the plane of the base and the removablehydropad or the replacement removable hydropad.
 12. The scrollcompressor according to claim 9, wherein each of the removable hydropadand the replacement removable hydropad is one or more of pressable into,screwable into or pinnable to the motor housing.
 13. The scrollcompressor according to claim 9, wherein respective materials of theremovable hydropad and the replacement removable hydropad are eachheavier than the material of the motor housing.
 14. The scrollcompressor according to claim 13, wherein the respective materials ofthe removable hydropad and the replacement removable hydropad eachcomprise cast iron and the material of the motor housing comprisesaluminum alloy.
 15. The scroll compressor according to claim 9, whereineach of the removable hydropad and the replacement removable hydropadhas an integral bearing housing which is removable from the motorhousing.
 16. A vapor compression refrigeration system (VCRS) comprisingthe scroll compressor, the removable hydropad according to claim 10 andthe replacement removable hydropad according to claim 9.